August 30, 2012 - Mouser Electronics, Inc., a leading global distributor for semiconductors and electronic components, today announces that only two weeks remain to enter the third design challenge of the Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge Competition.  "We're looking for the industry's top engineers to help Mouser and KV Racing Technology identify innovative solutions to some of its most intriguing race-related engineering challenges," says Larry Johannes, Mouser's Vice President of Strategic Marketing.

So far this summer, the Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge has posed two unique challenges to participants in its search for the best design solutions, each one focusing on a different aspect of racing technology. In this third challenge, which ends September 15th, participants are asked to develop an innovative solution to a problem, describe it in paragraph form and submit it for consideration through the Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge website at www.mouser.com/500challenge. Ten solutions deemed to be the best from each challenge will be reviewed by the Mouser/KV Racing Technology Team, and the finalist whose solution is judged to be the best in each challenge will win an Apple iPad 3. The three First Prize iPad winners will be eligible to win the Grand Prize of an autographed Tony Kanaan racing helmet.

"The technology behind this sport is critical to the success of every race car driver, and an aspect many fans do not often get to see," explains Johannes. "But we know there are many fans who understand and revel in the fact that there is much more that goes on behind the scenes and under the carbon fiber than what can be seen on the racetrack. We were amazed with the talent and creativity of the submissions seen so far. We are excited to see the ingenious solutions that our pool of engineers will innovate for this final challenge."

The third challenge specifically focuses on the IndyCar's suspension system. Each IndyCar uses four dampers (shock absorbers) as part of its racing suspension. During race conditions, the dampers are subjected to heat due to the rear dampers' proximity to the engine and high loads. The challenge is to design a damper heating pad that can be heated or cooled to maintain and monitor an optimal operating temperature of 80˚C +/-5˚C throughout the race. This will require two separate heating pad systems (front and rear) with a single control unit. Full information on all of the challenges, details on how to participate, and complete contest rules can be found at www.mouser.com/500challenge.

The contest is part of Mouser's extensive racing program. The distributor first set its sights on an IndyCar sponsorship last year as an innovative way to connect with the industry's top engineers, and as a high-tech platform to showcase its valued supplier partnerships. This year, Mouser is sponsoring Indy champion driver Tony Kanaan as he takes the wheel of the No. 11 MOUSER ELECTRONICS/GEICO - KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone IndyCar. Joining Mouser as co-sponsors for the 2012 Izod^® IndyCar Series are TTI, Inc, Sager, Murata, Molex, TE Connectivity, Phoenix Contact, Littelfuse, Panasonic, KEMET, Ohmite, Hammond, Harwin, ebm-papst, Omron, BIVAR, Fluke, and Amphenol.

To view a video interview with Tony Kanaan during his recent visit to Mouser's corporate headquarters click on http://mou.sr/GSTKHT. For the latest updates on Mouser's IndyCar news and Tony Kanaan, visit http://www.mouser.com/indy/.

With its broad product line and unsurpassed customer service, Mouser caters to design engineers and buyers by delivering What's Next in advanced technologies. Mouser offers customers 19 global support locations and the latest, most technologically advanced components for their newest design projects. Mouser Electronics' website is updated daily and searches more than 8.9 million products to locate over 3 million orderable part numbers available for easy online purchase. Mouser.com also houses an industry-first interactive catalog, data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, and engineering tools.

About Mouser
Mouser Electronics, a subsidiary of TTI, Inc., is part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. Mouser is an award-winning authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor, focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies to electronic design engineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 3 million products online from more than 450 manufacturers. Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing designers with up-to-date data on the components now available for the next generation of electronic devices. Mouser ships globally to over 375,000 customers in 170 countries from its 492,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit www.mouser.com.

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